Can You Burn Leaves in Forsyth County?

If your front and back yards are barely visible under mountains of countless leaves, it can be tempting to rake them up, stuff them in a big barrel, and set them all on fire to get rid of them.

Not so fast, Forsyth County fire officials warn.

Fortunately for aspiring leaf burners, the mandatory outdoor burning barn that goes into effect every April is lifted every September. However, burning can be restricted on a day-to-day basis depending on weather conditions. Outdoor burns are also subject to several regulations, all of which can be read here.

The regulations that deal with individuals burning leaves are pretty straightforward, so let’s take a look at them.

For one, all burns must be held between 10 a.m. and an hour before sunset. Whoever is in control of the property at the time the burn begins is responsible for ensuring the burn is done safely and in compliance with all regulations.

No pile of leaves meant for burning can exceed 6’ by 2’ in size, and only two piles of leaves can be burning at the same time. Each pile of leaves must be at least ten feet away from each other and must also be 50 feet from any structure and 25 feet from any property line.

If you want to start a leaf burn but still have questions, feel free to reach out to the Forsyth County Fire Marshal at 678.455.8072 or via e-mail to firemarshal@forsythco.com.